Using DNA From Hair to Gather Evidence

Hair Evidence-Advanced Forensic Science Hair evidence has been utilized for high profile cases that include homicide and robberies with violence. The paper will highlight the real issue that surround the use of hair for evidence and evidence processing, the viability of obtaining DNA transcriptions that are admissible in the forensic evidence presentation and the guiding principles of using such crime scene evidence as hair and other bodily materials.

There are central roles that hair evidence plays in the investigations to a crime omitted and these are the reasons why many forensic investigators find hair invaluable in their process. A thorough investigation of the hair evidence can more often than not indicate the race of the subject. They can also be easily compared to each other to determine whether multiple people were at the scene or a single subject also referred to as common origin of evidence.

The hair gives the forensic personnel combing the scene an advantage of being able to collect multiple of them within the same crime scene. The hair evidence need to be collected using tweezers, kept in a paper bindle or coin envelop and further stashing it safely in a larger envelope and properly labelled.

It is important to handle hair evidence with care, such that if the hair is caught in dried blood, glass, metal and such like objects, it should never be removed but left intact and be carried safely to the processing laboratory. Issue Hair is currently being used as evidence in almost any crime. The issue that comes into mind is if hair is really a vital bit of evidence to be used in almost any crime.

We have doubtlessly watched television series where the mention of hair is made often when it comes to the discovery of a corpse or when a crime is being reported. Hair is an important resource in forensic science and is responsible for provision of valuable clues to the identity f an attacker or an assailant. Like any fibers hair specimens are understood in forensic research as class and characteristic.

Hair may have enough similar properties compared with a sample known to be consistent with the sample though it can't be definitively be a perfect match .the discovery of hair on a victim's body or n the clothes of an assault victim can in most cases be used to determine the race and sex. While hair samples can be used to exclude a suspect they can only be termed as contributing evidence. It can also be used to extrapolate DNA that can be used for comparison purposes (Ramsland, 2010).

Rule Hair analysis can give an indication of whether it is from an animal or a human and also whether it is from a member of a particular race. It can determine whether the hair has been dyed, cut in a particular way or pulled out and from which part of the body it was located. In some case the evidence of poisoning is seen in the hair.

At a crime scene the hair samples are collected from the surrounding area and this can be useful when it comes to the elimination of individuals from police enquiries and at the same time narrow down the list of suspects. The samples are usually collected through pain-staking and meticulous processes by out of scene of crime officers who are usually dressed in protective clothing in order not to contaminate any evidence that is preexisting with their own hair.

The samples are collected in tubes, vials and grip seal bags so as to avoid any contamination between the collection time and time of proper analysis. The clothes of a victim can also be examined to trace any element of bodily fluid such as semen, blood or saliva and at the same time checked for hairs which do not match those of the victim.

The second stage of collecting hair evidence is the autopsy when a pathologist scrapes the underside of the fingernails of the victim for any hair that might have gathered there. This technique is quite useful during a violent struggle the victim might have attempted to defend themselves by lashing out in a posture that is defensive like biting or scratching the attacker (Claridge, 2014). Analysis The hair shaft with a follicle can give some genetic determinants like DNA or blood type.

Since the external layer of the shaft does not go through decomposition process, this then is the kind of evidence which has a real staying power. Even if hair is classified as dead matter it contains DNA though the hair itself is not an actual living organism. Hair ahs been accepted widely.